Hydraulic machine



March 10. 1925.

1,529,631 w. H. LIEBER HYDRAULIC MACHINE Filed April 10, 1922 2Sheets-Sheet 1 March 10, 1925. LEiZQfiFiE W. H LJEBER HYDRAULLC MACHINEFiled April 10 192.2 2 Sheets-Shes:

T if i 5 5 Patented Mar. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT'OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. LIEBER, OF WEST ALLIS, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO ALLIS-CHALMERSMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE.

HYDRAULIC MACHINE.

Application filed April 10,

To all whom it 11m 1 concern:

Be it known that. "WILLIAM H. LIEBER, a citizen of the United States,residing at West Allis, in the county of Milwaukee and State oflVisconsin, has invented a certain new and useful Improvement inHydraulic Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to improvements in hydraulic machines,and relates morejpecifically to improvements in the construction andoperation of hydraulic energy converting apparatus such as bydraulicturbines and pumps.

A general object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic machinewhich is simple in construction and efiicient in operation.

Some of the more specific objects and advantages of the presentinvention are as follows:

To provide an exceedingly simple, compact and ellicient hydraulicmachine of the rotary type.

To provide a hydraulic machine of extremely compact construction and ofrelatively great capacity, in which undesirable obstructions to flow ofoperating fluid are eliminated.

To provide a turbine installation especially adapted for hydraulic sitesin which the available water supply is relatively small, wherein theflow control mechanism is reduced to its simplest form.

To provide a vertical hydraulic installation in which the thrust inducedby the tluid flowing upwardly through the rotor is utilized to partiallyor completely counter balance the weight of the rotating parts, therebyeliminating necessity of providing special thrust bearings.

To provide a highly etlicient turbine operable under relatively lowheads and at relatively high specific or characteristic speeds, in whichthe costs of installation, and operation are a minimum.

To provide a hydraulic energy converting machine comprising a minimumnumber of elements or parts all of which are readily accessible forinspection or removal, and which may be quickly assembled.

To provide means for eliminating danger of interruption in thecontinuity of the pro- 1922. Serial No. 551,087.

pelling stream of a h draulic turbine operable under relative] ow head.

To provide an e cient flow decelerating structure cooperable with thedischarge'of a hydraulic machine.

To provide a hydraulic turbine unit of the type which is operable underrelatively low heads to produce relatively high specific orcharacteristic speeds, in which retardation of the flow due to theaction of centrifugal force, is substantially eliminated, and in whichsuch force is utilized in order to augment the flow through the unit.

To provide improved rotor structures for hydraulic machines operable athigh specific or characteristic speeds.

To provide other improvements in the construction, arrangement andoperation of hydraulic machines such as rotary pumps and turbines.

Some of the novel features of hydraulic rotor construction, disclosedbut not specifically claimed herein, form the subject of a divisionalapplication Serial No. 754,915, filed December 10, 1924.

Fi 1 is a central vertical section through a hydraulic turbine unitembodying a rotor of the axial flow type in which the whirling actuatingstream advances axially through the rotor.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section looking downwardly throiwh the h draulicturbine unit illustrated in i ig. 1, tie section being taken through theturbine discharge passa e.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through a hydraulic turbine havinga mixed flow rotor in which the whirling actuating stream has both axialand radial components of flow.

, Fig. 4 is a central vertical section throu h a hydraulic turbinehaving a rotor of tie radial flow type in which the major components ofllow of the whirling actuating stream, are radial.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a mixed flow rotor of the type capable ofproducing high characteristic or specific speeds.

Fig. 6 s a bottom view of the mixed flow ype of rotor shown in Figs. 3and 5.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a radial outward tlow rotor of the typecapable of producing high specific or characteristic speeds.

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the radial outward flow rotor illustrated inFigs. 4 and 7.

Each of the hydraulic turbine units illutrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4,comprises generally a lower casing 12 forming a vanefree spiral inletchamber 5, a transition space 6, and an axial upwardly directed conduitportion 7 communicating with the chamber 5; an upper casing portion 15cooperating with substructure to form an annular vane-free diffuser orflow decelerating (passage 8; a turbine rotor 2, 20, 30 locate betweenthe communicating conduits 5, 8; a vertical main shaft 3 having itslower end secured to the turbine rotor; and a d namo electric machine orgenerator 4 having a rotary element directly connected to the upper endof the vertical main shaft 3. The spiral inlet conduit 5 receivesoperating fluid from a source of supply through a vertically extendinginlet pipe 10 having control means such as a butterfly valve 11 therein,and communicates with the inlet chamber 5 in a generally tangentialdirection, as shown in Fig. 2. The spiral inlet chamber 5 communicatesinwardly with the symmetrical annular passage or transition space 6having a central symmetrical conoidal core 13, 23, 33 therein andproviding a vane-free guiding and conducting passage for graduallychanging the direction of flow of fluid passing therethrough from inwardto axial. The casing 12 which forms the chambers 5, 6 and the axiallydirected conduit 7 and which referably has the ipe 10 formed integral terewith, may be xed in position bv embedment in concrete 14 asillustrated. Theupper casing portion 15 is preferably 5 aced andsupported from the lower tur ine structure by means of an annular seriesof struts 16 which are located beyond the working passages and which maybe formed as guide vanes in order to produce least obstruction to theflow of fluid delivered from the decelerating chamber 8, see Fi 2. Theupper casing 15 is also forme to provide a suitable guiding surfaceadjacent to the turbine rotor and the central portion 17 of the uppercasing 15 provides a bearing and packing for the main shaft 3 directlyad acent to the turbine rotor. The outer periphery of the diffusinchamber 8 communicates with a conducting cas ng 18 forming a fluidconducting chamber 9 which communicates with the usual tail-race Oneside of the chamber 8 may be provided with a splitter 19 for dividin theflow of the decelerated fluid delivere from the diflusing chamber 8.Upon removal of the conducting chamber 18 the upper casing15 togetherwith the turbine rotor, main shaft 3 and dynamo electric machine 4, maybe loosened and freely vertically removed to expose the entire interiorof the hydraulic machine, the valve 11 serving to prevent entry of fluidfrom the source of fluid supply when the casing 15 is removed. u

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the specific construction of axial flowhydraulic turbine rotor 2 illustrated therein, forms no part of thepresent invention except in combination with the other novel features ofhydraulic machine construction. In this embodiment of the invention theupper casing 15 may be rovided with a lower wall located direct y belowand integrally united with the upper wall by means of the struts 16. Ifthe upper casing is thus formed, the joint between the upper casing 15and the lower casing 12 is preferably located in a plane dperpendicularto the rotor axis and locate directly adjacent to the rotor 2, so thatthe casings 12, 15 may be separated without interferring with the rotorvanes.

In this embodiment of the invention the conoidal core 13 is relativelyshort and may have its upper extremity formed to provide a thrustbearing for supporting the rotary elements when the machine is at rest.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3, 5and 6, the lower wall of the diffusing chamber 8 may be formed integralwith the lower casing 12, in order to permit removal of the rotor 20.The conoidal core 23 extends upwardly through the axial passage 7 andmay have its upper end formed to provide a thrust bearing for the rotaryelements. The mixed flow rotor 20 illustrated in these figures,comprises an annular series of dovetail shaped vanes 21 secured to aconoidal hub 22 and extending laterally and outwardly away from the hub,the vanes 21 having free outer ends. The vanes 21 are so s aced that theedges thereof do not over ap when the vanes are projected upon a plane riIeiiipendicular to the rotor axis, see Fi 6. e angularity of the vanesis such that the working surfaces are disposed transversely of thedirection of advancement of the'individual stream lines of the whirlingstream of operating liquid produced by the chamber 5. The rotor 20 isadapted to deliver its discharge into the adjacent diffusing chamber 8at an angle of approximatel relatively to the turbine axis. Such eliverypermits the centrifugal force induced in the whirling mass of liquid toassist in the delivery thereof to the diffusing chamber 8, thusaugmenting the quantity of fluid passing through the machine.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4. 7and 8, the lower wall of the diffusing chamber 8 may be formed integralwith the lower casing 12 and detachably connected to the upper casing 15by means of the struts 16, in order to permit removal of the rotor 30.The conoidal core 33 extends upwardly through the axial passage 7 andpreferably has its upper extremity formed to provide a thrust bearingfor the rotary elements. The radial flow rotor 30 illustrated in thesefigures, comprises an annular series of axially extending vanes 31secured to a disk-like hub 32, the vanes 31 either having free lowerends as shown, or being provided with a ring connecting the lower vaneends. The vanes 31 are so spaced that the adjacent edges thereof do notoverlap when the rotor 2 is viewed in a direction transversely of itsaxis. The angularity of the vanes is such that the working surfaces aredisposed transversely of the direction of advancement of the individualstream lines of the whirling stream of operating liquid admitted to andpassin through the rotor. The rotor 30 is adapter to deliver itsdischarge into the adjacent difl'using chamber 8 in planes substantiallyperpendicular to the turbine axis. With such delivery of the fluid, thecentrifugal force induced in the whirling mam of li uid assists in thedelivery thereof to the di using chamber 8, thus augmenting to a maximumthe quantity of fluid passing through the machine.

During normal operation of a hydraulic turbine constructed in accordancewith the present invention, operating fluid under pressure is admittedthrough the pipe 10 to the chamber 5, transition space 6, and axialconduit 7, and from thence through the rotor to the diffusing ordecelerating chamber 8. The quantity of fluid admitted through the ipe10 is controllable either automatically y means of a speed governor ormanually, by manipulation of the butterfly valve 11, and the fluid flowmay be cut off entirely by closing the valve 11. In assing through thespiral inlet chamber 5 tiie entering fluid is caused to whirl due to thespiral formation of the lower casing 12, in the same general directionas the direction of rotation of the rotor. The fluid is deliveredinwardly from the chamber 5, toward the rotor axis to the transitionspace 6 wherein the direction of flow of the whirling stream is chan edfrom inward to axial. The axially a vancing whirling stream of liquidthen passes through the axial conduit 7 to the rotor wherein asubstantial part of its velocity energy is transformed into torque inthe rotating shaft 3 and produces rotation of the rotary elements atrelativel high specific or characteristic speeds. e fluid is deliveredfrom the rotor with considerable residual whirl, directly into theoutwardly extending diflusing chamber 8. In the chamber 8 the remainingvelocit and whirl energy is substantially converte into pressure energyand the fluid is eventually discharged into the chamber 9 withpractically no whirl energy left therein and with but sufficientvelocity energy left to produce a flow to the tail-race.

It will be obvious that the entire elimination of stationary vanes andother obstructions, in the energy converting passages of the hydraulicmachine, eliminates friction and odd losses and permits gradual andeflicient elivery of the fluid to and from the machine. The eliminationof complicated gate mechanism and valves also eliminates energy lossesand reduces the cost of construction and installation to a minimum. Byadmitting the operating fluid from below the rotor, the axial thrustproduced by the entering fluid may be utilized to either partially orcompletely counter balance the weight of the rotating arts. Suchinverted setting also reduces t e overall height of the unit and insurescontinuity of the flow of working fluid regardless of variations in thehead level throughout a considerable range. In the rotors 9/0, 30, thecentrifugal force resulting from whirling of the stream also assists indelivery of the fluid from the rotor, and in all of the installationsillustrated, centrifugal force is utilized to assist in rapid andefficient diffusion of the discharge flow. Energy losses are alsoreduced to a minimum in open rotors 2, 20, 30 of the type illustrated,having relatively few nonoverlapping vanes. The internal passages andmechanisms are readily accessible for inspection and removal of parts,and the entire structure is especially applicable to small hydraulicpower sites wherein the available uantity of operating fluid is limitedbut re atively constant. While the invention has been illustrated hereinas applied to vertical hydraulic turbine installations only, it will beobvious that features thereof are more generally applicable.

It should be understood that it is not dcsired to limit the invention tothe exact details of construction and of operation hen-- in shown anddescribed, for obvious Imu'liii cations within the scope of the claimsmay occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor compris ng vanes formed to freelydischarge the iquld radially of the rotor axis, means forming a vanefree conduit for positively producing a whirling stream of liquid andfor delivering said strea'in toward said rotor, and means providing aflow decelerating conduit for receiving the discharge directly from saidrotor in a direction transverse to the rotor axis.

2. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor, comprising vanes formed to freelydischarge the liquid radially of the rotor axis, means forming a vanefree conduit for positively producing a whirling stream of liquid and ordelivering said stream axially toward said rotor, and means providing aflow decelerating conduit for receiving the dis charge directly fromsaid rotor in planes substantially erpendicular to the rotor axis.

3. In a hy raulic machine, a rotor comrising vanes formed to freelydischarge the iquid radially of the rotor axis, means formin a vane freeconduit for ositively producing a whirling stream of liquid and fordelivering said stream upwardly toward said rotor, and means providing aflow decelerating conduit above said rotor for receiving t e dischargetherefrom.

4. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor comrising vanes formed to freelydischarge the iquid radially of the rotor axis, means forming a vanefree 5 iral conduit for ositively producing a wliirlin stream of liquidand for delivering sai stream toward said rotor, and means providing anannular vane free flow decelerating conduit for receiving the dischargedirectly from said rotor.

5. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor comrising vanes formed to freelydischarge the iquid radially of the rotor axis, means forming a vanefree s iral conduit for ositively producing a w irling stream 0 liquidand for delivering said stream axially toward said rotor, and meansproviding an annular vane free flow decelerating conduit for receivingthe discharge directly from said rotor in planes substantiallyperpendicular to the rotor axis.

6. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor comprising vanes formed to freelydischarge the liquid radially of the rotor axis, means forming a vanefree spiral conduit for positively roducing a w irlin stream of liquidan for delivering sai stream axially and upwardly to said rotor, andmeans providing an annular vane free flow decelerating conduitcommunicating with said rotor from above and adapted to receive thedischarge directly from said rotor in planes substantially perpendicularto the rotor 3x15.

7. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor comprising vanes formed to freelydischarge the iquid radially of the rotor axis, means formin a vane freeconduit for ositively producing a whirling stream of liquid and fordelivering said stream axially toward said rotor, and means providing aflow decelerating conduit communicating with said first named conduit,said rotor having vanes between said conduits past which the whirlingstream of li uid flows in a direction away from the axis of said rotor.

8. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor having non-overlappin successivevanes formed to freely discharge t e liquid radially of the rotor axis,means for conducting liquid to said rotor with a whirl, means forcontrolling the quantity of liquid admitted to said conducting means,and flow decelerating means for receiving the discharge directly fromsaid rotor vanes and for conductin said discharge transversely of theaxis 0 said rotor.

9. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor comrising vanes formed to freelydischarge the iquid radially of the rotor axis, means formin a vane freeconduit for ositively producing a whirling stream of liquid and fordelivering said stream toward said rotor, means for controlling thequantity of liquid admitted to said conduit, and means providing a flowdecelerating conduit for receiving the discharge directly from saidrotor in a direction transverse to the rotor axis.

10. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor comprising vanes formed to freelydischar e the liquid radially of the rotor axis, means formin a vanefree conduit for positively producing a whirling stream of liquid andfor delivering said stream axially toward said rotor, means forcontrolling the quantity of liquid admitted to said conduit, and meansproviding a flow decelerating conduit for receiving tie dischargedirectly from said rotor in planes substantially perpendicular to therotor axis.

11. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor comprising vanes formed to freelydischarge the 'quid radially of the rotor axis, means formin a vane freeconduit for positively producing a whirling stream of liquid and fordelivering said stream upwardly toward said rotor, means for controllingthe quantity of liquid admitted to said conduit, and means providing aflow decelerating conduit above said rotor for receiving the dischargetherefrom.

12. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor comrising vanes formed to freelydischarge the liquid radially of the rotor axis, means for ositivelyproducing a whirling vortex of iquid and for delivering said vortexupwardly toward said rotor, and means providin an annular flaring flowdecelerating conduit above said rotor for receiving the dischargetherefrom.

13. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor, means for positively producing avortex of liquid and for deliverin said vortex upwardly toward andoutwardly through said rotor, and means providing a flow deoeleratinconduit above said rotor for receiving the discharge therefrom.

14. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor comprising vanes formed to freelydischarge the "quid radially of the rotor axis, means forming a vanefree spiral conduit for positively producing a vortex of liquid and fordelivering said vortex toward said rotor, means for controlling theliquid admitted to said conduit, and-means providing an annular vanefree flow decelerating conduit for receiving the discharge directly fromsaid rotor.

15. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor comprising vanes formed to freelydischarge the liquid radially of the rotor axis, means forming a vanefree spiral conduit for positively producing a vortex of liquid and fordeliverin said vortex upwardl I toward said rotor, and means providing aow decelerating conduit above said rotor for receiving the dischargetherefrom.

16. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor, means forming avane free spiralconduit for producing a vortex of liquid and for delivering said vortexupwardly toward and outwardly through said rotor, and means forproviding an annular vane free flow decelerating conduit above saidrotor for receiving the .discharge therefrom.

17. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor, means forming a vane free spiralconduit for ositively producing a vortex of liquid an for deliveringsaid vortex axially toward and outwardly through said rotor, and meansproviding an annular vane free flow decelerating conduit for receivingthe discharge directly from said rotor and for conducting said dischargeaway from the axis of said rotor in planes substantially perpendicularto said axis.

18. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor, means forming a spiral conduit freefrom obstructions for positivel producing a vortex of liquid and for deivering said vortex outwardly through said rotor, and means providing aflow decelerating conduit at the discharge side of said rotor.

upwardly to said rotor, and means providing an annular flow deceleratingconduit free from obstructions communicating with said rotor from above.

20. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor, means formin a conduit free fromobstructions for posltively producing a vortex of liquid and fordelivering said vortex axially toward said rotor, means for controllingthe delivery of li uid to said conduit, and means providlng a owdecelerating conduit communicating with said vortex producing conduit,said rotor having vanes located between said conduits ast which thevortex of 1i uid flows in a direction away from the axis of said rotor.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is afiixed hereto.

WILLIAM H. LIEBER.

